Unabated blast fishing in Ilocos Norte province’s waters and its neighboring coastal areas has been identified as one of the major causes of dolphin stranding here, a report of the Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network (PMMSN) chapter in the province said on Tuesday. Since February, PMMSN has recorded nine instances of dolphin stranding in the country, seven of which occurred in northern, central and southern Luzon and Central Visayas regions. The latest case involved a spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris), which was found near the shore of Gabut Sur village here on Feb. 13, weak from an old shark bite wound, fishery officials said.

Adriano, L. (2014, February 28). Blast fishing seen cause of dolphin stranding. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A13.